It’s no different from giving up on someone who writes terrible code or creates got hell.
Sure, you talk to them. And sure, you explain what the problem is and treat them like an adult. But ultimately it is completely acceptable to give up.
Peoples’ potential matters to parents, and to mentors. A high-potential, low-performing person can be a project worth taking on, but they are not an obligation in the workplace, especially for someone as senior and time-constrained as Linus.
Sure, you talk to them. And sure, you explain what the problem is and treat them like an adult. But ultimately it is completely acceptable to give up.
Peoples’ potential matters to parents, and to mentors. A high-potential, low-performing person can be a project worth taking on, but they are not an obligation in the workplace, especially for someone as senior and time-constrained as Linus.